Uebert Angel - 'The philanthropist'

HE has been called all sorts of names - Man of God, a fake prophet, a trickster and fraudster - because of his antics and miraculous powers on the pulpit.

His critics say he is arrogant and extraordinarily opulent - attributes not associated with Christianity. They doubt his powers to produce money from thin air and his ability to heal the sick and the lame.

But besides the hullabaloo of where he draws his miracles and powers, Uebert Angel 's life behind public glare is that of an unheralded philanthropist. Through the Hand of Mercy (Home), an arm of his Embassy Ministry, the youthful Angel has helped thousands of needy and vulnerable people in Zimbabwe and the region.

Home was launched at the inception of the ministry in 2007 with an ambitious programme to assist the downtrodden, outcasts and less privileged people in society.

"The patron of Home, prophetess Beverly Angel, wife to Uebert Angel, together with her husband, has been ministering to the poor, the marginalised and less privileged of our society since the inception of the ministry," said Spirit Embassy official pastor Mike.

"It has not been an afterthought, but rather a core facet to the ministry."

Home has adopted multitudes of families under its Adopt a Family Scheme. The families get supplies of groceries monthly and some of them have school fees for their minors paid.

It also runs a soup kitchen for the elderly at Bako reDonhodzo in Highfields, Harare. Every Friday, Beverly and the Home team serve full course meals to the elderly at Bako reDonhodzo.

"The elderly now have something to look forward to every week," pastor Mike said. "The Hand of Mercy also makes it its responsibility to provide toiletries, clothes and blankets to the elderly at this home and to do just about anything with the potential of bringing a smile onto faces of the elderly and making their living conditions hospitable."

In Mutare, Angel and his wife fed, clothed the elderly at the Zororai Old People 's Home. Beverley has also donated blankets, sheets, pillowcases and various medical consumables worth thousands of dollars to Mutare General Hospital.

Angel 's scope of help goes beyond Zimbabwe. In Botswana the couple adopted a 74-year-old widow Jessie Molahlehqi and her four grandchildren who were living in appalling and abject poverty.

"She had no means to cater for her four dependents and was relieved to know that all material needs such as clothing, food and full scholarships for her four dependents was to be provided by the couple (Angel and Beverley)," the official said.

"On top of that, the prophets Uebert and Beverly Angel built for her a well-furnished and air conditioned three-bedroomed house, changing her gloomy life into bliss. Prophet Uebert Angel himself was involved in the building process, pushing wheelbarrows and doing shovel work."

In Zambia, Beverly donated various hospital materials worth thousands of dollars to the University of Zambia, said the ministry 's website. The exact figures of the donation were not provided. The donation included bedding material and other essential items.

After the donation, the dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Zambia said: "We rely on the government for any support in terms of medical equipment and material needs. No one has ever come on board like you have.

"To impact the community and the hospital like you have done is really a welcome breath of fresh air and relief in times of ailing. For us really, your initiative of putting on board our wards and specifically, Ward E22, is a moment that must be underlined."

In response Beverley said: "The word of God says, true religion is helping those who are in need. The Bible also says that when someone asks you for something and you can see that they are struggling, you don 't say, 'God bless you ' and leave them as they are. If you have the money in your pocket, you take out your money and you change someone 's situation with it."

The couple has since identified and adopted 10 primary schools in the country in Matabeleland, Manicaland, Mashonaland and Masvingo.

"The couple will be paying fees for the entire school, making a huge difference in these communities. We are going to inform you, should we have the liberty to do so, of the amount that they will use under the scheme to be named Adopt a School scheme," Angel 's spokesperson said.